Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) confirmed that an engine fire at Akhtubinsk airfield in Russia’s Astrakhan Oblast destroyed a Russian Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet on Oct. 29. The agency suggested in a Nov. 2 social media statement that the fire may have resulted from "deteriorating jet fuel quality" linked to Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. This fuel shortage follows August reports from the agency that Russia became increasingly dependent on aviation fuel imports because Ukrainian strikes disrupted domestic jet fuel production. The Su-57 remains Russia’s most advanced and expensive fighter jet, though it has seen limited use during the full-scale invasion.
| Su-57 Aircraft Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Estimated cost (Kommersant, 2019) | $35 million |
| Estimated export variant cost (HUR) | $150 million |
The loss of this highly advanced aircraft follows several other incidents involving the Su-57 during the invasion. Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, reported that a Ukrainian drone strike hit two aircraft of this type in April. In July, another Su-57 reportedly crashed or was shot down in a friendly-fire incident during a training flight near Moscow. The destruction of such an expensive asset is a significant blow to Russian aviation capacity. This aircraft was designed to rival Western models such as the U.S.-made F-35 and F-22.
Ukrainian drone strikes and personnel losses
Ukrainian monitoring channels reported that Ukrainian drones struck the Samara Linear Production and Dispatch Station in the city of Prosvet, which sits approximately 835 kilometers (520 miles) northeast of the Ukrainian border. This strike occurred as Russian forces suffered 2,500 personnel losses over the past day on Nov. 1, according to Ukraine’s General Staff. Russia also used a humanitarian ceasefire in Oleshky to rotate soldiers, improve fighting positions, expand anti-drone netting on logistics routes, and resupply soldiers with ammunition.
The loss of the Su-57 occurs while Russia faces mounting logistical difficulties and personnel shortages. On late Nov. 1, the Ukrainian air raid alert system was hacked, causing sirens to sound across the country while falsely notifying people of nuclear, chemical, and street fighting threats. This electronic interference happened as Iliana Yotova won 57.58% of the Nov. 1 vote, with 99.95% of the polling station protocols processed. The Russian government describes the Su-57 as a supermaneuverable fifth-generation fighter with stealth capabilities.
